Music Institute of Long Island

ABOUT US

MISSION:

MILI is dedicated to the teaching of music by professional musicians in a loving and encouraging environment. We love children, music, and teaching. We believe that every child can have musical success if it is taught in a nurturing environment where he or she is encouraged, given clear instruction and guided toward overcoming obstacles. Our goal is to see our students progress because success develops self-confidence and contentment.

PERFORMING:

MILI gives its students the opportunity to perform at least six times a year as soloists and as members of its chamber groups and ensembles. Our students have performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Cami Recital Hall, and Steinway Hall in New York City; Old Westbury Gardens, the Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington, and the Festival of Trees at SUNY College at Old Westbury. MILI has given benefit performances and concerts for United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County's Festival of Trees at SUNY Old Westbury and for HUGS ACROSS AMERICA, Manhasset. Students of the Music Institute have also performed aboard a cruise ship, for the Governor of Bermuda at Government House, and at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. MILI was profiled in a sixty-minute television program, and has performed live on NBC's Weekend Today show and CBS's Early Show.

ACHIEVING:

MILI is proud of its students. They do well in their school orchestras and have received top ratings from NYSSMA and the Piano Guild Association. Based on their NYSSMA ratings, our students have been selected to perform with the All-County, Long Island String, and All-State Festival orchestras. They have won competitions including the American Fine Arts Festival, the Queens Cultural Heritage Competition, the Westchester Piano Competition, and the Queens Symphony Orchestra Competition. MILI students have participated in invitation-only master classes with concert violinists Dylana Jensen and Erica Kiesewetter. Piano, violin and cello students also have participated in the Long Island Philharmonic Master Class Series, including a program with violinist Elmar Oliveira. There are MILI students who have played in "side by side" concerts with the Long Island Philharmonic and the Queens Symphony orchestras. MILI's student body also includes youngsters who perform as soloists with their school orchestras, have been accepted into summer music programs in France, or have chosen to study at music conservatories, colleges, and universities.

DIRECTORS

When Carol Kushner and Geri Kushner first started teaching violin and viola in their parents' home, it was expected that both student and parent would remain after the lesson to share coffee, cake and conversation with the Kushner household. It didn't take too long before everyone realized that larger quarters were needed. Thus, in September of 1990, the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) was born. Headquartered in Manhasset, the sisters and their faculty have used their teaching skills, musicianship, and knowledge to enhance the lives of hundreds of youngsters and their families.

The Kushners are passionate about children, music, and staying connected. At holiday times, it is not unusual for former students and even their families to stop in and say hello. What is unusual perhaps is that some of these visitors now reside in Asia, Europe and Latin America. If they could, the Kushners would teach the whole world to play instruments.

CAROL KUSHNER (violin)

Carol received her Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music and her Master of Music degree in Performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College of the City University of New York, where she completed its Teacher Certification program and served as an adjunct lecturer. Carol holds New York State Teacher (music) certifications for grades K-12. She received her Suzuki Certificate from the School for Strings, and also is a licensed Kindermusik® educator. Carol studied with Raphael Bronstein, Ivan Galamian, and Sally Thomas at the Juilliard School, and participated in Master classes given by Nathan Milstein in Switzerland, Yfrah Neaman in England, and Yehudi Menuhin in New York City. Prior to co-founding the Music Institute of Long Island, Carol served on the faculty of the Yuriko Kuronuma Academia in Mexico, Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York, and the Dalton School in Manhattan.

Carol is affiliated with the Long Island Philharmonic, the Queens Symphony, and the St. Cecilia Orchestra. She has been heard on WQXR radio; appeared on NBC and CBS television; given recitals in Mexico, England and Germany; toured the United States as well as Japan; and has been a soloist with orchestras in New York City and Mexico. Presently, Carol is also a Professor of violin studies at Five Towns College in Dix Hills.

GERI KUSHNER (violin and viola)

Geri received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College of the City University of New York and a Master of Music degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she was a teaching assistant. Geri holds both New York State and New York City Teacher certifications for grades K-12. She received her Suzuki Certificate from the School for Strings and also is a licensed Kindermusik® educator. She studied with Raphael Bronstein, Ariana Bronne, Burton Kaplan, Sally Thomas, and Yfrah Neaman.

Prior to co-founding the Music Institute of Long Island, Geri served in the pre-college division of the Aaron Copland School of Music, directed the summer music program at Hofstra University, and was on the staff at the Dalton School in Manhattan. She is an active performer with the Queens Symphony, the Masterworks Orchestra, and the Westfield (NJ) Symphony, and has performed throughout the metropolitan New York area, England, and Mexico. Geri also has toured Japan with the New York Symphonic Ensemble.